Sudan could soon have 10 million internally displaced people: UN agency
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More than half of the internally displaced people in Sudan were women and a quarter of them children under five, a UN official said.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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GENEVA – The number of people internally displaced in Sudan due to conflict could soon exceed 10 million, the UN migration agency said on June 7, in the world’s largest displacement crisis.
Fighting broke out in the capital Khartoum
“How much suffering and loss of life must the people of Sudan endure before the world takes notice?
“Isn’t 10 million internally displaced enough to compel urgent global action?” said Mr Mohamed Refaat, Sudan chief of mission for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
“Every one of those 10 million displaced life represents a profound human tragedy that demands urgent attention.”
The IOM recorded 9.9 million people internally displaced across Sudan this week. Prior to the war, there were already 2.8 million internally displaced people, according to the IOM.
In total, about 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, with more than two million crossing into neighbouring countries, including Egypt and Chad.
Mr Refaat said more than half of the internally displaced people in Sudan were women and a quarter of them children under five.
He said aid agencies were struggling to keep up
“Funding shortfalls are impeding efforts to provide adequate shelter, food and medical assistance,” Mr Refaat said.
“Serious concerns are mounting about the long-term impact of displacement on Sudan’s social and economic fabric.”
UN agencies have warned that Sudan was at “imminent risk of famine”, with around 18 million people acutely hungry, including 3.6 million children who are acutely malnourished. REUTERS
